Sex in superhero movies usually feels like an afterthought. It's normally a chaste kiss before a CGI explosion or a strategic fade-to-black. Zack Snyder didn't do that in 2009. When people talk about Watchmen sex scenes, they usually lead with the "Hallelujah" sequence. You know the one. It’s long. It’s awkward. It’s set to Leonard Cohen. It’s also, arguably, the most misunderstood part of the entire film because it isn't really about the sex at all. It’s about failure and the weird way these "heroes" need their masks to feel like actual human beings.
Alan Moore’s original graphic novel used these moments to deconstruct the power fantasies we all grew up with. Snyder tried to translate that to the big screen, and the result was... polarizing. Some fans think it’s a masterpiece of subversion. Others think it’s just plain cringey. Honestly? It’s probably both.
The mechanics of the Watchmen sex scenes and why they feel so weird
The most famous—or infamous—of the Watchmen sex scenes involves Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl II) and Laurie Jupiter (Silk Spectre II). This isn't just a random hookup. It’s a plot point. Earlier in the film, Dan is literally impotent. He’s a middle-aged guy living in a basement, surrounded by his old gadgets, mourning a life of relevance he no longer has. When he tries to get intimate with Laurie in his apartment, he can’t perform. It’s a grounded, human moment that you rarely see in a genre defined by peak physical perfection.
Then they go out and break Rorschach out of prison. They put the suits back on. They dodge fire and fight thugs. Suddenly, the adrenaline kicks in. They get back onto "Archie," the Owlship, and the "Hallelujah" scene happens.
- The Lighting: It’s high-contrast, orange and blue, classic Snyder.
- The Music: Leonard Cohen’s original version of "Hallelujah."
- The Fire: Literal flamethrowers go off in the background when they climax.
It’s over-the-top. It's cheesy. But if you look at the source material, that's kind of the point. Dan and Laurie can't function as normal people. They need the fetish of the costume and the violence of the "job" to feel alive. Without the masks, they’re just two lonely people who don't know how to talk to each other. The scene is supposed to feel a bit "too much" because their relationship is built on a foundation of theatricality and escapism.
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Does the HBO series handle intimacy differently?
Fast forward to 2019. Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen on HBO took a totally different approach. We still have Watchmen sex scenes, but the context shifted from 1980s angst to deep-seated trauma and legacy. Think about Laurie Blake (formerly Jupiter) and her relationship with Dr. Manhattan—or rather, her "replacement" for him.
The blue vibrator she carries around isn't just a gag. It’s a tragic symbol. It shows she’s still stuck in the past, unable to move on from a god-like being who didn't actually understand human love. Then you have Angela Abar and Cal. Their intimacy is grounded and real, which makes the eventual reveal of Cal’s true identity hit like a freight train. In the show, sex is used to build character depth rather than just deconstruct the "superhero" archetype. It feels more mature, even if it lacks the stylized pyrotechnics of the movie.
Dr. Manhattan and the problem of being everywhere at once
We have to talk about the blue guy. Dr. Manhattan is a walking (well, floating) god. In the film and the comic, his "sex scene" is one of the most chilling moments in the story. He’s in bed with Laurie, but he’s also in his lab working on his experiments at the same time. He’s literally multi-tasking during sex.
It’s the ultimate expression of his detachment from humanity. Laurie realizes she’s not actually "with" him because he’s everywhere and nowhere at once. This scene highlights the tragedy of Jon Osterman. He has all the power in the universe, but he’s lost the ability to be present in a single moment of intimacy. It’s not meant to be sexy; it’s meant to be heartbreaking. It’s the moment the audience realizes that Dr. Manhattan is no longer a man. He’s just a ghost in a blue shell.
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Why the 2009 movie version still sparks debates
If you go on Reddit or film forums today, people are still arguing about Snyder's choices. The main criticism is usually that Snyder made the Watchmen sex scenes look too cool. In the graphic novel, Dave Gibbons draws the characters with soft, aging bodies. They look like real people. In the movie, Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman look like movie stars.
Some critics, like Roger Ebert back in the day, noted that the film’s visual style sometimes works against its own themes. If you’re trying to show that these people are pathetic, maybe don't light them like gods. But then again, Snyder’s whole thing is "hyper-reality." He wants us to see the world as the characters see themselves—glorious, operatic, and slightly absurd.
The Comedian and the dark side of Watchmen
You can't discuss Watchmen sex scenes without mentioning the attempted assault of the first Silk Spectre by Edward Blake (The Comedian). This is the darkest thread in the story’s fabric. It’s a brutal, horrific scene that sets the tone for the entire deconstruction.
It’s not there for shock value. It’s there to show the "Golden Age" of heroes was built on a foundation of abuse and silence. It’s the catalyst for Laurie’s entire existence and the reason her relationship with her mother is so fractured. While the other scenes in the film deal with impotence or detachment, this one deals with the raw, ugly reality of power without morality. It’s the "anti-sex" scene that defines the cynical heart of the Watchmen universe.
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Moving beyond the surface level
If you’re revisiting these scenes today, try to look past the "Hallelujah" memes. Look at the framing. Notice how the camera lingers on the costumes even when they’re being taken off. The story is telling us that these people are addicted to their alter-egos.
Watchmen isn't a "sexy" story. It’s a story about people who use masks to hide from their own insecurities. Whether it’s Dan’s need for adrenaline to feel like a man or Laurie’s need for a literal god to feel seen, the intimacy in this world is always transactional. It’s always broken.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch:
- Watch the body language: In the movie, pay attention to Dan’s posture before and after he puts on the suit. His physical confidence is tied entirely to his gear.
- Contrast the music: Compare the "Hallelujah" scene in the movie to the silence or diegetic sound used in the HBO series. The difference in tone tells you everything about the creators' intent.
- Read the comic's "Fearful Symmetry": Look at how the panels are laid out in the graphic novel during these moments. Moore and Gibbons often mirror panels to show how the characters are trapped in cycles of behavior.
- Check the "Under the Hood" extra: If you have the Director's Cut, watch the faux-documentary. It provides a ton of context for why these characters are so socially stunted.
The Watchmen sex scenes aren't just there to fill a quota. They are fundamental to understanding why these characters do what they do. They are uncomfortable, loud, and sometimes weirdly beautiful—just like the people under the masks.